Fibrin gels are responsible for the mechanical strength of blood clots, which are among the most resilient protein materials in nature. Recently also their application as a material for tissue engineering is being widely explored.  In our lab we investigate the physical origin of the strain-stiffening behavior of reconstituted fibrin clots by performing rheology measurements. Our data show that increasing levels of shear strain induce a succession of distinct elastic responses that reflect stretching processes on different length scales. Those different elastic regimes explain the incredible resilience of fibrin clots against large deformations [1].

More information: Izabela Piechocka

Collaborators: Prof. Fred MacKintosh, Vrije Universiteit